The Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will transfer the .vu top level domain name from Telecom Vanuatu Limited (TVL) to the Telecommunications Radiocommunications Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR).
TRBR confirmed that the announcement was made during the ICANN board meeting held in Japan last week.
TVL decided that their preference is to be a Registrar in the future, primarily so they may retain a direct relationship with their domain name customers.
TVL has been responsible for management of the .vu domain name for Vanuatu since its initial delegation on 10 April 1995.
Under the "Vanuatu Domain Name Management and Administration Regulation Order No 206 of 2016" TRBR is required to manage .vu and to attend to the process of splitting the Registry and Registrar functions of this domain name.
Under a Shared Registry System (SRS) a single Registry Operator for .vu will be appointed and TVL and other Registrars who are approved by TRBR will be able to interact directly into the registry for their respective customer domains. This introduces competition at a local and global level for the domain names available within the Registry.
TRBR stated that the these changes set the scope for a competitive market for .vu domain names.
"TRBR has created an environment where multiple Registers can make their own unique offerings and pricing for .vu names.
"TRBR wants to encourage the establishment of local Registrars in Vanuatu and believes the environment will encourage the other Local Internet Providers and possibly web designers will consider becoming Registrar or Resellers of .vu names."
TRBR stated that the government of Vanuatu has set the stage for these changes to occur.
TRBR also acknowledged the input from the industry stake holders, various government departments and the local Internet community, in coming together for multi-stakeholder dialogue and decisions which culminate with the positive decision from ICANN.
ICANN is the global body that manages the Internet's unique identifiers including the Top Level Domains for countries and the generic names like .org or .com.
Photo Loop Vanuatu